Iran and six global powers’ negotiators have had "serious and useful" discussions in Geneva and will meet again next month

Iran and six global powers’ negotiators have had "serious and useful" discussions in Geneva and will meet again next month, the European Union said.

Senior officials from the United States, Britain, China, France, Germany, and Russia met with Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi for a day of talks as part of "ongoing diplomatic efforts to find a comprehensive solution to the Iranian nuclear issue," the EU said on Sunday.

"They had serious and useful meetings chaired by EU political director Helga Schmid and decided to meet again in early February," the statement added.

Araqchi had met with senior US officials for three days prior to Sunday's meeting and also met with Russian officials in preparation for the talks.

"We remain hopeful, and I think that if the other side has the necessary good will and determination it will be possible to reach a deal," he told the Fars news agency on Saturday.
He acknowledged though that "problems, chasms and differences also exist".

China's envoy said on Sunday that the next round of negotiations on Iran's nuclear program is set for early February, but the venue has not been decided.

Wang Qun, director-general of the arms control department of China's Foreign Ministry, was speaking to reporters after deputy ministers from Iran and world powers held closed-door talks.